Chris Helme (The Seahorses)

Chris is without doubt one of Yorkshires finest singer songwriters, formerly the frontman of John Squire's post-Stone Roses band The Seahorses.

Helme began singing and performing at the age of 19, and began playing around his native York with his first band Daisy Space/Genuine Moon Material before forming folk-jazz band Chutzpah in 1993.

The band regularly gigged at Fibbers, where Helme worked behind the bar.

A friend of John Squire's long-time guitar technician Martin Herbet discovered Helme busking outside Woolworths department store in York's Coney Street. Impressed by Helme's version of The Rolling Stones song, "No Expectations", he requested a demo tape and passed it on to Squire. Squire went to see Helme perform at Fibbers on 26 May and 16 June 1996. Another gig was then arranged at the Roadhouse venue in Manchester, where Squire invited Helme to join his new band, for which he had already recruited bassist Stuart Fletcher.

Geffen Records, to whom Squire was still under contract following his departure from The Stone Roses, signed the band. The Seahorses released their debut album Do It Yourself in 1997. The album was produced by Tony Visconti and spawned three hit singles. "Love is the Law" reached no. 2 in the UK Singles Chart; "Blinded by the Sun" got to no. 7 and "Love Me and Leave Me" at no. 15. The stand-alone single "You Can Talk to Me", co-written by Squire and Helme reached no. 15.

In January 1999, after two years of intensive touring, including support slots to The Rolling Stones, U2 and Oasis, a press release sent to the NME announced the split of the Seahorses ".

Following The Seahorses' demise, Helme undertook a short solo tour across England which culminated with a gig at the Improv Theatre in London. Backed by a newly formed band featuring members of York band, 'The Lo Beams', Fraser Smith of Shed Seven and fellow ex-Seahorse, Stuart Fletcher performing material written whilst in The Seahorses.

In 2000 Chris started working with session guitarist James Nisbet and began playing gigs in London backed by a revolving cast of session musicians, which at one point featured drummer Toby Drummond, who temporarily replaced Andy Watts in The Seahorses. With a full band, Helme headlined as a solo artist, at the Theatre Royal in York in May 2000.

In 2001 a permanent band was assembled with Nisbet, drummer John Miller and Stuart Fletcher back on bass. With new management and PR, an official website was launched and a 3 track demo CD was serviced to the media. With the new band, Helme performed numerous London gigs at Ritz and undertook a short UK tour in November of that year.

Chris then went on to form The Yards from the ashes of his solo band. Initially named Super Zero, the band originally featured former Shed Seven guitarist Paul Banks who left before the release of their debut EP The Devil Is Alive and Well in D.C. in April 2003. The band released their self-titled debut album in 2005 and second album Imperial Measures in 2009 via their own label Industrial Erotica.

Chris set up an independent record label, promo company and booking agency "Little Num Num Music" with fellow York musician Andy Gaines. It was on this label that Helme released his debut solo album, Ashes, in May 2008. He toured the UK extensively to coincide with the release and followed up with a single, Pleased, in 2010 which was taken from his second album.

In August 2012 Helme released second album The Rookery to amazing reviews. Recorded in 11 days the album was produced by Chris Helme with Sam Forrest (of Nine Black Alps).

He has brand new material to offer audiences for the first time in a decade, as he tours his new album, World of my Own – a diary of a 10-year period in Chris' life.

Weaving between moments of soul-searching darkness and bursts of appreciation, gratitude and lightness, the album speaks to the full spectrum of relationships that colour our lives and the distances that sit between ourselves and others.

World of my Own follows his critically acclaimed 2012 record The Rookery. "Echoing the fragility of Gram Parsons, while flirting with the rustic side of Neil Young" (Uncut), his "dreamy but driven indie folk" (Q Magazine), and blistering voice continue to stop audiences in their tracks.

You can expect Chris' blend of honesty and anecdotes, following a 30-year career in the music industry, alongside his distinctive vocals and a raw, enthralling performance, that his solo shows have become known for.

September 2024 brings the release of a new single 'Hangin' Out' which was recorded during the making of World Of My Own. This is followed by an album of the segues which sew the tracks of the album together, composed by longtime collaborator Jon Hargreaves. The album features an alternate ending to the album which has not been heard before.